3A Baseball | Issaquah's unlikely run ends in title

Issaquah baseball coach Bob Reese jokingly asked reporters Friday, "When are we going to get some headlines?"

Well, how about now?

Issaquah, which had finished tied for fourth place in KingCo 3A and endured a five-game losing streak at one point, is the improbable state champion.

"It's been an incredible run," said Reese of his team, which finishes with a 20-9 record.

The underdog Eagles beat Auburn 7-3 on Saturday at Safeco Field for Issaquah's third title of the decade and the sixth of the decade for KingCo 3A. Issaquah won under Reese in 2000 and '04.

"It means so much more to beat a team like that," he said of the win over the Trojans (24-3), who had been ranked as high as No. 14 in the nation.

"Everything we read was 'Auburn, Auburn, Auburn,' " said Issaquah shortstop Matt Gellatly, who went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs.

Junior pitcher Tyler VanderBoegh kept power-hitting Auburn off balance with a variety of pitches. Reese said VanderBoegh was the one pitcher on his staff capable of beating the Trojans, who tee off on fastball pitchers.

The Eagles gained confidence as the game continued and the big Issaquah hit came in the fourth when Robert Johnson smacked a two-run triple to right for a 5-3 lead. Miles Perkins doubled to right to bring home Johnson to make it 6-3.

It was the second straight title-game loss for Auburn, which was 4A last year and lost to Jackson.

"They hit some tough pitches," said Auburn coach Tim Kuykendall of Issaquah. "They have a lot of tough outs in their lineup."

Auburn had the bases loaded in the seventh inning with two out, but Kevin Cleary grounded back to the mound for the final out.

Auburn starter Colton Brown was chased in the third inning and replaced by Blake Webster, who was replaced by David Olson in the fourth. Olson had started Friday's win over Meadowdale and had been pulled after two innings so he would be eligible to pitch if needed in the title game.

On Friday after beating Bonney Lake 4-2, Reese said, "We're probably wrecking a lot of people's parties."

The Eagles wrecked one more Saturday and their pig pile after the final out showed how much they enjoyed it.

Third-place game

Bonney Lake 2,

Meadowdale 1

For the second straight day, a bad first inning did in Meadowdale.

On Friday, the Mavericks gave up five first-inning runs in a 9-5 loss to Auburn. On Saturday, both of Bonney Lake's runs came in a three-hit first.

Matt Prescott pitched a four-hitter for the Panthers (20-7), but there was suspense at the end of the game.

In the top of the seventh with two out and Matt Gorman on first, Meadowdale sophomore Chase Anselment blasted a shot to deep center field. Garry Kuykendall appeared to chase it down, but the ball dropped from his glove and Gorman scored. Matt Johnson then lined out to shortstop to end the game.

Meadowdale, a 3A school in the 4A/3A WesCo South Division, finished 14-13 for fourth place.

Second-year Bonney Lake is in its first year with seniors in the school. The Panthers were the only team to beat Auburn in the regular season, doing it twice.

Players were appreciative of the chance to play at Safeco.

Meadowdale senior Ricky Denham said, "It still hasn't really sunk in that I played at Safeco Field. It's a pretty amazing event."